Thieves are constantly looking for new ways to steal personal information – such as your name and Social Security or credit card numbers – to commit fraud or other crimes. That's why it's important to be vigilant about protecting your personal information, financial or otherwise, and looking for early warning signs of a stolen identity.

SCE Federal Credit Union helps minimize your risk for identity theft

SCE Federal Credit Union recommends you take the following precautionary measures to help protect from becoming an identity crime victim:

Create secure online passwords

One of the easiest ways for people to access your information is through online accounts that may contain saved personal information like your name, credit card or debit card numbers. Using unique, complex passwords for each of your online accounts helps protect your identity. The best passwords generally contain a selection of numbers, letters and special characters.

Use the Itnernet with caution

Online shopping and entertainment sites, like Amazon and Netflix, are extremely popular and easy to use. However, enjoying the benefits of these sites can also leave you vulnerable to online scammers and identity thieves. Hackers regularly visit these large online businesses – many of which do not encrypt all of their customer's personal information – to acquire potential targets. To learn how to better safeguard your personal and financial information online, visit OnGuardOnine.gov.

Keep important documents safe

Documents like your Social Security card and passport can provide crucial information for someone seeking to commit fraud, so don't leave a paper trail of financial records. Credit card bills, bank statements, charge receipts and any other documents of this nature should be filed safely or shredded before put in the trash.

Monitor all of your financial and personal information carefully

Be sure to frequently check for anything out of the ordinary, such as: